Board hears presentation on the District’s “We See You” initiative that recognizes the dedicated park employees and their contribution to Chicago parks and communities.
Today, during its regular, monthly meeting, the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners authorized the Park District to enter into an agreement to provide Chicago Parks Foundation with a grant in the amount of $500,000. The Foundation is the not-for-profit established to raise funds to support the development of park facilities and programs through private donors, foundations and corporation. The grant contributes $200,000 for services performed by the Foundation in 2025 and 2026 in addition to $100,000 for services performed in 2024.
Following a presentation and request for provisional approval, the Board voted in favor of a two-year permit agreement with the organizers of Pokémon GO Fest to host the event in Grant Park. The event will feature an immersive gaming experience, in addition to other celebratory amenities including photo opportunities, merchandise sales and food concessions. The live event will be held in Summer 2026 and is expected to attract up to 40,000 attendees per day and generate $1 million in permit revenue that supports parks citywide.
In addition, the organizer will fund a 10% give back for capital investment in Grant Park. The Park District will engage community stakeholders through its Participatory Budgeting Process to ensure the community is empowered to determine how the give back from the event will be invested in the park.
The Park District and Pokémon GO continue to work together to optimize public access during the events, including minimal fencing. In addition, no alcohol or live music will be offered on the event footprint.
The Board authorized the Park District to temporarily suspend competitive bidding and extend the agreement with SMG for the management of Beverly/Morgan Sports Complex, 11505 S. Western, beyond the current end date of December 31, 2025 to March 31, 2028. The approval allows the Park District to align the Morgan Park Sports Center, McFetridge Sports Center and the Baseball Stadium at Devon and Kedzie contract term dates, thereby affording the opportunity to advertise them together when the agreements end. A leader in the field locally, nationally and internationally, SMG has been managing Morgan since it opened to the public in 2016. Under SMG’s administration, expenses have been managed prudently while revenues at the facility have increased nearly $220,000 over the last three years alone.
The cost of the contract extension is not to exceed $298,536.00. MBE/WBE compliance for this contract is 46% MBE and 5% WBE, exceeding the Park District’s participation goals.
The Board also authorized a one-year contract extension with F.H. Paschen, to complete punch list items and conduct final closeout on the current work to reconstruct the Elizabeth Morse Genius Children’s Garden at the Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Avenue in the East Garfield Park community. The project, which is near completion and expected to open this Fall, features a new indoor playground, new planting beds, family restrooms and a wheelchair accessible, spiral ramp that leads to the top of the Conservatory’s historic glass roof. These improvements will create an immersive, experience, where children can discover and engage in nature.
MBE/WBE compliance for the construction of the $8,581,000.00 project is 26% MBE and 7.5% WBE, exceeding the Park District’s participation goals.
The Chicago Park District DEI Office delivered a presentation on the District’s “We See You”, an initiative launched in 2024 to foster a culture of belonging by creating a platform for employees to identify, celebrate and acknowledge colleagues and the positive impact they make in the workplace and Chicago’s 77 communities. Each employee who has been awarded with the “We See You” recognition was presented with a resolution that was also read into record.
Other agenda items include the authorization for the Park District to authorize and provide for the issuance and delivery of General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds not to exceed $120,000,000, including $55,000,000 of General Obligation Limited Tax Park Bonds to finance the cost of park development and improvements and $65,000,000 of General Obligation Limited Tax Refunding Bonds, for the refunding the District’s outstanding General Obligation Limited Tax Refunding Bonds. The Board also approved a contract for paint supplies and a settlement payment in the amount of $150,000.